Friction clutch



Dec. 10, 1929. o. c. KAVLE FRIGTION CLUTCH Filed 00's. 6, 1925 IWEN-MR Patented Dec. 10, 1929 PATENT OFFICE OSCAR C. KAVIJ', OF'SYRACUSE, NEW YORK FRIICTION CLUTCH Application' led October 6, 1925. Serial No. 60,7770.

This invention relates to a friction clutch preferably of the reversing type adapted to' be used more particularly in connection with drill presses, lathes, boring and tapping` machines and the like but may be used in many other relations for transmitting rotary motion from one rotary element to another.

The main object is to provide a double cone friction element of resilient material such as cork or its 'equivalent for cooperation with opposed relatively rotatable driving and driven elements having conical sockets with which the opposite conical ends of the first-named element areadapted to engage and release as either of the second-named elements is moved axially in reverse directions and thereby to obtain a relatively large frictional contact surface in proportion to the diameter of the clutch elements.

Another object is to greatly increase the frictional grip between the resilient element and the driving and driven elements when `brought into driving relation and also to eX p'edite the grip and release of said elements when the driving and driven elements are moved axially in reverse directions relatively to-each other.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the device will be brought out in the 3o following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan or an end view of the 'device forming the subject of this invention as used in connection with a drill press or boring machine.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2, F igurel, the dotted lines indicating the supporting spindle for the head and the driving spindle for the tool holder.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the plane of line 3 3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is asectional view of a modified form of double cone friction clutch-adapted to be used in place ofthe usual motor vehicle clutch and in other relations.

The device shownV in Figures 1,2 and 3 comprises an upright axially movable head 1 consisting inthis instance of a main upper section 2 and a cap section 3 secured together end to end by any suitable fastening means as screws 3 to form a gear chamber 4 the upper end of the upper section 2 being hollow and split radially through one side and is adapted to be clamped to an axially movable spindle --5 shown by dotted lines in Figure 2, said split side being provided with a clamping bolt 6- by which it may be fastened and released to and from the spindle 5 The lower end of the upright section 2 is provided with a journal bearing 7- in which is journaled the hub or shank 8 of a rotary driving element consisting in this inst-ance of a bevel gear 9 the upper end of the shank or spindle 8 being preferably tapered and secured in any wellknown manner in thelower end of the usual rotary driving shaft 10 which may be centrally journaled in the spindle 5 to rotate relatively thereto and to move axially therewith in a manner well-known in ldrill presses.

The shank 8 extends vertically through a central opening in the gear 9- and is provided at its lower end with an annular flange 11 seated in a corresponding recess in the underside of the gear 9 and secured thereto by screws 12 Figure 2, so that the shank and gear may rotate in unison, said gear being engaged with the underside of the upper section 2 to hold t-he gear and its supporting spindle against upward movement relatively to the head A collar 13 is secured by av key 13 to the intermediate portion of the shank 8 for engaging the upper portion of the bottom of the section 2 and thereby holdspaced relation thereto for a purpose presently described.-

The hub extends through a central opening in the gear llland is provided at its inner end with an annular flange 1G- seated in a corresponding recess in the upper face of the Gear -14- and secured thereto by screws -1 Figure 2.

Rotary motion is transmitted from the gear --9 to the gear 14.- by means of a pinion -18- which is journaled on a snitable stud -lS- on one side otl the section 3- within the chamber -4- and also serves as a means for reversing the direction of rotation of said gears in a manner presently described.

A 'tool-supporting spindle -19- is extended upwardly thru a central opening in the hub -15- of the gear k-llfand into a socket 20- in the hub or shank 8- of the gear -9- for relatively rotary and axial movement therein, the lower end of the spindle -19- being adapted to receive a chuck or equivalenty device, not shown, but ordinarily used for holding a drill 0r similar tool. c

A clutch element -21- is secured by suitable keys -ZI-k to the intermediate portion of the spindle -19- between the gears -9- and 14- for rotary and axial movement relatively to said gears and with the spindle 4Q-,- and is provided in its opposite ends with, annular conical sockets -22- and 23-, both of substantially the ysame diameter and concentric 'with the axes of thespindle -19- and gears --'9- and -14.

The gears 9 and -14- are also provided with annular conical sockets 22'- and -23- of substantially the same diameter as the sockets -22-- and Q3- and co-axial with-their respective gears so that vthe open ends of the sockets 422- and -22-- vand also the open ends'of the sockets -2'3- andV -234- face each other.

The sockets Q2- and -QQL- areadapted to receive thefopposite tapered ends of a double cone friction ring -24- while the sockets -23- and -28 are adapted to receive the opposite tapered ends of a separate double cone friction ring -2Ll"-.'

These friction 'rings -24- and 24J- are made of resilient material such as Icork or its equivalent which is compressible under pressure and returns to its normal size by its own resiliency, and are split diametrically for assembling. v y

Eachjof the sofkets 2Q- and 2W- and -23- and -23- is 'tapered from its open end at a greater angle than the adjacent 'tapered ends of the corresponding rings -Ql- Vand v--EZ/land their smaller ends are of slightly 'lesscwidth than the adjacent ends Aofthe rings while their larger ends are of greater width than thead]- acent portions ofthe rings so that when the clutch section -21- is moved axially in one direction from its medial position, the conical ends of the friction ring at that end will be wedged into and compressed by the walls of the corresponding socket and when moved axially in the opposite direction will produce a corresponding effect vuponnmthe other rin t lgor example, assuming that theV device is to be used ior drilling, boring, tapping or reaming la piece of, `Work and that the spindle free to movefaxially relatively to and between the gears -9- an-'d -14- and constitutes what may be termed a floating clutch section oi' lsufficient weight to cause it to automaticalper ring 24- and to lightly engage and' be supported by the lower ring 2M-when the device is running idly yat which time the gear *14sand possibly the'members 24..,"21 and.

direction through the medium of the pinion -18- or if theinertia or resistance vto" rotation of the idling tool-spindle is suicientto overcome the friction between the clutch members, the tool-spindle will'be at rest.

Now as the tool is advanced in tQ the'work by -the downward movement 'of the head #f1-.- the'resistunce' Caused by the enges@- ment of the tool withl the work will press t e vspindle-19# and l clutch elementr #421+- npwardly thereby'releasing the section -2lfrom the ring -24f and at the same time vpressing the `upper ring #Q4- into frictional engagement lwith the walls Aof the sockets 2land its supporting'spindle -19-4 are 585 Y .t -90 ly withdraw from engagement with the up@ 19'will be rotated in 'a counter-clockwise`MIF Q2- and --22- of the members -91- .and Q- resulting in the rotation ofthe tool supporting spindle 19'- clutch member 7:21- in thesame direction as the gear --9- and 'its supporti-ng spindle -for in other words ina clockwise direction l:tor causing the tool to enter the Work. c

On the other haldwhen the head -l--lis raised thereby relieving the pressureof the tool holder --l9--cl against the work, the friction of the toolwicth thework will` tend to withdraw thespindle 19,- and clutch section -21- downwardly thereby rel-easing the frictional engagement oft the friction ring Q4- from' engagement withjthe-,gearf--Q- and simultaneously causing the'trictionaliengagement of thegsection #-215- with the .friction ring -24yf-'which willxbe. also `forced into irictional engagement with thelower gear 14,- and owing .to the itact that `the ien gear 14- Will then be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction a similar directional rotation Will be imparted to the section -2land its supporting spindle -l9 to facilitate the Withdrawal of the tool from the Work.

In other Words, as the tool is forced into the Work itis rotated in the direction of rotation of the driving spindle -8 or clockwise While the upward movement of the head 1 causes the tool to be Withdrawn from the Work with a countercloclrwise motion, these operations being accomplished automatically through the floating member '-Ql-vand clutch rings *iP/land -24- in their cooperation with the reversely rotating gears 9- and -14-- In Figure l is shown a simple form of clutch adapted to be used in motor vehicle transmission gearing and in other relations and comprising opposed relatively rotatable and co-axial clutch members -3land 32- and a double cone clutch ring -24, the clutch member 3lbeing loosely mounted on a shaft -33- and is provided With a conical annular groove -34- concentric With the shaft -33-.

The clutch member 32- is splined on the shaft 33- through the medium o'f a key oating friction ring between said members and having each of its opposite ends provided with radially spaced concentric friction surfaces for frictional engagement With the adjacent friction surfaces of said members as the axially movable member is moved toward the other member.

2. A friction clutch as in claim l in which the concentric friction surfaces on opposite ends of the floating ring are convergent axially in opposite directions.

3. A friction clutch as in claim 1 in Which the concentric friction surfaces on the adjacent ends of said members and also the concentric friction surfaces on opposite ends of the floating ring are convergent in opposite directions and the angle of convergence of the friction surfaces of the ring is less than the angle of convergence of the friction surfaces of said members.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of September, 1925.

OSCAR C. KAVLE.

-35- and is also provided With a conical annular groove -36- concentric with the axis of the shaft 33- and of substantially the same diameter as the groove l/L These grooves -34- and -36- face each other for receiving the adjacent conical ends of the clutch ring 24- Which is similar to the clutch rings 24- and -24- previously described.

The angles of the conical Walls of the grooves 34.- and 36- are slightly greater than the angles of the adjacent conical ends of the member 24- Which is also made of cork or other resilient material capable of more or less compression by the Wedging action of its ends into the corresponding grooves.

lIhe hub of the member -32- is provided with an annular groove -37- for the reception of a shifting member, not shown, but by which said member may be moved axially for causing the member 24- to frictionally engage and to be released from engagement With the conical Walls of the members -3land 3Q- or, if desired, the clutch member -32- may be urged toward the section 31- by means of a spring commonly used in automobile clutches.

I claim:

l. In a friction clutch, axially opposed coaxial relatively rotatable clutch members having their adjacent ends each provided With radially spaced concentric friction surfaces, one of said members being movable axially tovvard and from the other member, a 

